US20070065708A1 - Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC - Google Patents
Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070065708A1 US20070065708A1 US11/229,909 US22990905A US2007065708A1 US 20070065708 A1 US20070065708 A1 US 20070065708A1 US 22990905 A US22990905 A US 22990905A US 2007065708 A1 US2007065708 A1 US 2007065708A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- flow channels
- wick
- water
- gas
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
- H01M8/0241—Composites
- H01M8/0245—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
- H01M8/0234—Carbonaceous material
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
- H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
- H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
- H01M8/04171—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal using adsorbents, wicks or hydrophilic material
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
- H01M8/04253—Means for solving freezing problems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
- H01M8/04126—Humidifying
- H01M8/04141—Humidifying by water containing exhaust gases
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to a fuel cell and, more particularly, to a fuel cell employing a water blocking layer for preventing water from entering anode gas delivery channels and a wick positioned within a water accumulation channel for directing water to an inlet end of the anode gas delivery channels.
- Hydrogen is a very attractive fuel because it is clean and can be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell.
- the automotive industry expends significant resources in the development of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power for vehicles. Such vehicles would be more efficient and generate fewer emissions than today's vehicles employing internal combustion engines.
- a hydrogen fuel cell is an electro-chemical device that includes an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte therebetween.
- the anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air.
- the hydrogen gas is disassociated in the anode to generate free protons and electrons.
- the protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode.
- the protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water.
- the electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The work acts to operate the vehicle.
- PEMFC Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
- the PEMFC generally includes a solid-polymer-electrolyte proton-conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane.
- the anode and cathode typically include finely divided catalytic particles, usually platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer.
- Pt platinum
- the catalytic mixture is deposited on opposing sides of the membrane.
- the combination of the anode catalytic mixture, the cathode catalytic mixture and the membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).
- MEAs are relatively expensive to manufacture and require certain conditions for effective operation. These conditions include proper water management and humidification, and control of catalyst poisoning constituents, such as carbon monoxide (CO).
- the fuel cell stack receives a cathode input gas, typically a flow of air forced through the stack by a compressor. Not all of the oxygen is consumed by the stack and some of the air is output as a cathode exhaust gas that may include water as a stack by-product.
- the fuel cell stack also receives an anode hydrogen input gas that flows into the anode side of the stack.
- the fuel cell stack includes a series of bipolar plates positioned between the several MEAs in the stack.
- the stack could include about two hundred bipolar plates.
- the bipolar plates include an anode side and a cathode side for adjacent fuel cells in the stack.
- Anode gas flow channels are provided on the anode side of the bipolar plates that allow the anode gas to flow to the anode side of each MEA.
- Cathode gas flow channels are provided on the cathode side of the bipolar plates that allow the cathode gas to flow to the cathode side of each MEA.
- the bipolar plates are made of a conductive material, such as stainless steel, so that they conduct the electricity generated by the fuel cells from one cell to the next cell as well as out of the stack.
- the bipolar plates also include flow channels through which a cooling fluid flows.
- the membranes within a fuel cell need to have a certain relative humidity so that the ionic resistance across the membrane is low enough to effectively conduct protons.
- moisture from the MEAs and external humidification may enter the anode and cathode flow channels.
- a flow channel in which liquid water has accumulated will have a lower flow than the flow channels where no water has accumulated. Because the flow channels are in parallel, the input gas may not flow through a channel with water accumulation, thus preventing the water from being forced out and allowing for increased water accumulation therein.
- Reducing accumulated water in the channels can also be accomplished by reducing inlet humidification. However, it is desirable to provide some relative humidity in the anode and cathode gases so that the membrane in the fuel cells remains hydrated. A dry inlet gas has a drying effect on the membrane that could increase the ionic resistance, and limit the membrane's long-term durability.
- Accumulated water in the cells can also reduce performance of the fuel cell when operated in an environment where the temperature goes below 0° C.
- the accumulated water could also lead to mechanical damage in these environments.
- a fuel cell that is part of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system
- the fuel cell includes a water blocking layer positioned between anode gas flow channels and an anode side gas diffusion media layer.
- the blocking layer prevents liquid water from flowing through the gas diffusion media layer and entering the anode flow channels, while allowing gas from the flow channels to flow through the diffusion media layer to the membrane.
- a water accumulation channel can be provided around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer where blocked water is accumulated, and allowed to expand during cell freezing.
- a porous capillary wick can be provided in the accumulation channel for wicking water to the inlet end of the flow channels where it is used to humidify the anode gas coming into the fuel cell.
- the wick can have a tapered configuration so that it has a larger diameter at the gas input end of the flow channels.
- wicking fingers can be coupled to the capillary wick and extend into or adjacent to the diffusion media layer to allow water from an internal area of the fuel cell to be removed by the capillary wick.
- the water accumulation area is eliminated by extending the water blocking layer to be in close proximity to ends of the diffusion media layer and a sealing gasket.
- FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack employing a water blocking layer between anode side flow channels and a cell MEA, according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack employing a water blocking layer as shown in FIG. 1 , and further employing a capillary wick positioned within a water accumulation channel;
- FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the fuel cell shown in FIG. 2 showing the capillary wick extending around a perimeter of the cell from a gas inlet manifold to a gas outlet manifold;
- FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a fuel cell of the type shown in FIG. 5 and including wicking fingers extending into an interior of the fuel cell for drawing water out of the gas diffusion media layer, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack including a modified water blocking layer, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell 10 that would be one fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, for example, a fuel cell stack in a vehicle.
- the fuel cell 10 includes an anode side 12 and a cathode side 14 .
- An MEA 16 is positioned between the anode side 12 and the cathode side 14 , and includes an electrolyte membrane 18 having a catalyst layer 20 on the anode side 12 of the membrane 18 and a catalyst layer 22 on the cathode side 14 of the membrane 18 .
- An anode side gas diffusion media layer 26 is positioned adjacent to the MEA 16 on the anode side 12 and an anode side bipolar plate 28 is positioned on an opposite side of the gas diffusion media layer 26 from the MEA 16 .
- the anode side bipolar plate 28 includes a series of anode flow channels 30 through which an anode input gas, particularly hydrogen, flows into the fuel cell 10 to react with the catalyst layer 20 .
- the gas diffusion media layer 26 is a porous layer that provides for input gas transport to and water transport from the MEA 16 .
- a gasket 34 seals the membrane 18 to the bipolar plate 28 .
- the cathode side 14 of the fuel cell 10 would also include a cathode side gas diffusion media layer and a cathode side bipolar plate including cathode gas flow channels, as would be well understood to those skilled in the art. Additionally, an opposite side of the bipolar plate 28 would be the cathode side including cathode flow channels for an adjacent fuel cell to the fuel cell 10 in the fuel cell stack.
- a water blocking layer 40 is positioned between the bipolar plate 28 and the gas diffusion media layer 26 .
- the water blocking layer 40 prevents liquid water flowing through the gas diffusion media layer 28 from the MEA 16 from entering the anode flow channels 30 , thus preventing accumulation of water therein and preventing the channels 30 from being blocked.
- the blocking layer 40 is a thin and flexible layer, is suitably porous so it does not impede hydrogen transport, is hydrophobic so that liquid water cannot pass through and is electrically and thermally conductive so as to not significantly increase cell resistance or temperature gradients relative to the catalyst layer 20 on the MEA 16 .
- the water blocking layer 40 is made of commercially available Carbel MP30Z and has a thickness of about 50 microns.
- the water blocking layer 40 forces diffusion to be the dominant transport mechanism from the channels 30 to the gas diffusion media layer 26 by eliminating in-plane by-pass of reactant gas through the diffusion media layer 26 .
- gas velocity in the flow channels 30 is increased, particularly for serpentine flow field where the channel pattern tends to force reactant gas flow through the diffusion media layer 26 , further helping water management in the fuel cell 10 . This will mitigate the affect of variation in the diffusion media in-plane permeability characteristics.
- the fuel cell 10 includes a water collection channel 42 extending around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer 26 .
- the sealing gasket 34 is located to maintain a space beyond the diffusion media layer 26 , and defines the channel 42 .
- the channel 42 provides an area where the water that diffuses through the media layer 26 can accumulate, and then expand if the fuel cell 10 is in an environment where it may freeze. It has been found that the fuel cell durability and start-up under sub-freezing temperatures is greatly impacted by accumulated water in the flow channels 30 during freezing. However, partially accumulated water in the gas diffusion media layer 26 and in the channel 42 has limited effect on the start-up of the fuel cell 10 .
- Storing liquid water in the channels 42 , and thus, partially in the gas diffusion media layer 26 , would also provide for a more robust cell performance and durability by preventing the MEA 16 from drying out during transients and when the inlet operating conditions cannot be controlled properly.
- the water buffer will benefit cell performance through the diffusion of excess water from the gas diffusion media layer 26 to the MEA 16 , keeping the proton conductivity in the MEA 16 high.
- the blocking layer 40 will also reduce shrink tension in the MEA 16 that could extend the life of the membrane 18 .
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell 48 similar to the fuel cell 10 , where like elements are identified by the same reference numeral.
- FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the fuel cell 48 where the bipolar plate 28 and the blocking layer 40 have been removed.
- a porous capillary wick 50 is positioned within the channel 42 and extends completely around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer 26 .
- the hydrogen gas enters the flow channels 30 from an inlet manifold 52 and the remaining anode gas not consumed by the fuel cell 48 is output from the fuel cell 48 through an outlet manifold 54 .
- an anode input gas that is not highly humidified enters the channels 30 from the inlet manifold 52 it is relatively dry, and thus acts to dry the membrane 18 at the inlet side of the fuel cell 48 .
- the anode gas propagates through the flow channels 30 to the outlet manifold 54 it accumulates moisture, increasing its relative humidity (RH), which helps keep the membrane 18 hydrated.
- RH relative humidity
- the capillary wick 50 and the gasket 34 are configured so that the anode inlet gas from the inlet manifold 52 flows through the wick 50 and picks up water therefrom to increase its humidification. However, the anode exhaust gas exiting the flow channels 30 into the outlet manifold 54 is prevented from contacting the wick 50 . Therefore, there is a drying of the wick 50 at the inlet side of the wick 50 relative to the outlet side of the wick 50 , which provides a capillary flow through the wick 50 to the inlet end.
- the material of the wick 50 can be any material suitable for the purposes discussed herein, such as a polymer fiber or a microfiber material.
- the wick 50 has a larger diameter adjacent to the inlet manifold 52 than the wick diameter at the outlet manifold 54 . This difference in the diameter of the wick 50 provides an increased flow area to accommodate the increased water flow to the inlet manifold 52 .
- the wick 50 can be a continuous length or separate sections that are coupled together.
- FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a fuel cell 60 similar to the fuel cell 38 where like elements are identified by the same reference numeral.
- wicking fingers 62 are coupled to the wick 50 , and extend into the fuel cell 60 .
- the wicking fingers 62 are perpendicular to the flow direction of the flow channels 30 , and are positioned either adjacent to or within the gas diffusion media layer 26 , not shown in FIG. 4 .
- the wicking fingers 62 increase the flow of water from the gas diffusion media layer 26 to the wick 50 so that water is more readily removed therefrom.
- wicking fingers 64 can be provided in combination with the wick 50 that extend in a parallel direction to the flow channels 30 .
- FIG. 5 is cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell 70 similar to the fuel cells 10 and 48 discussed above, where like reference numerals identify like elements.
- the blocking layer 40 is replaced with a blocking layer 72 that is in more intimate contact with the gasket 34 and the gas diffusion media layer 26 .
- Water is not removed from the anode side 12 of the fuel cell 70 , but is removed from the cathode side 14 where increased flow can be used to remove excess water without wasting fuel to the exhaust as would be required to purge excess water from the anode side 12 . In this configuration, water accumulation in the anode side 12 will reach steady state once its partial pressure is equivalent to the cathode side 14 .
- This water may then be removed by decreasing the liquid water partial pressure in the cathode side 14 .
- a water blocking layer can be provided between the gas diffusion media layer and the cathode gas flow channels on the cathode side 14 of the fuel cell 10 . Because air is readily available to purge the water out of the cathode flow channels, it is typically not as critical to prevent water from entering the cathode flow channels.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates generally to a fuel cell and, more particularly, to a fuel cell employing a water blocking layer for preventing water from entering anode gas delivery channels and a wick positioned within a water accumulation channel for directing water to an inlet end of the anode gas delivery channels.
- 2. Discussion of the Related Art
- Hydrogen is a very attractive fuel because it is clean and can be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell. The automotive industry expends significant resources in the development of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power for vehicles. Such vehicles would be more efficient and generate fewer emissions than today's vehicles employing internal combustion engines.
- A hydrogen fuel cell is an electro-chemical device that includes an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte therebetween. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air. The hydrogen gas is disassociated in the anode to generate free protons and electrons. The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode. The protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The work acts to operate the vehicle.
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are a popular fuel cell for vehicles. The PEMFC generally includes a solid-polymer-electrolyte proton-conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. The anode and cathode typically include finely divided catalytic particles, usually platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer. The catalytic mixture is deposited on opposing sides of the membrane. The combination of the anode catalytic mixture, the cathode catalytic mixture and the membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEAs are relatively expensive to manufacture and require certain conditions for effective operation. These conditions include proper water management and humidification, and control of catalyst poisoning constituents, such as carbon monoxide (CO).
- Several fuel cells are typically combined in a fuel cell stack to generate the desired power. The fuel cell stack receives a cathode input gas, typically a flow of air forced through the stack by a compressor. Not all of the oxygen is consumed by the stack and some of the air is output as a cathode exhaust gas that may include water as a stack by-product. The fuel cell stack also receives an anode hydrogen input gas that flows into the anode side of the stack.
- The fuel cell stack includes a series of bipolar plates positioned between the several MEAs in the stack. For the automotive fuel cell stack mentioned above, the stack could include about two hundred bipolar plates. The bipolar plates include an anode side and a cathode side for adjacent fuel cells in the stack. Anode gas flow channels are provided on the anode side of the bipolar plates that allow the anode gas to flow to the anode side of each MEA. Cathode gas flow channels are provided on the cathode side of the bipolar plates that allow the cathode gas to flow to the cathode side of each MEA. The bipolar plates are made of a conductive material, such as stainless steel, so that they conduct the electricity generated by the fuel cells from one cell to the next cell as well as out of the stack. The bipolar plates also include flow channels through which a cooling fluid flows.
- As is well understood in the art, the membranes within a fuel cell need to have a certain relative humidity so that the ionic resistance across the membrane is low enough to effectively conduct protons. During operation of the fuel cell, moisture from the MEAs and external humidification may enter the anode and cathode flow channels. A flow channel in which liquid water has accumulated will have a lower flow than the flow channels where no water has accumulated. Because the flow channels are in parallel, the input gas may not flow through a channel with water accumulation, thus preventing the water from being forced out and allowing for increased water accumulation therein. Those areas of the membrane that do not receive input gas as a result of the channel being blocked will not generate electricity, thus resulting in a non-homogenous current distribution and reducing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell. Significant water accumulation in a single cell could result in severe reactant blockage to that cell and cause the cell to fail. Because the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series, if one of the fuel cells stops performing, the entire fuel cell stack may stop performing.
- It is usually possible to purge the accumulated water in the flow channels by forcing the anode gas or the cathode gas through the flow channels at a higher flow rate. However, there are many reasons not to use the hydrogen fuel as a purge gas, including reduced economy, reduced system efficiency and increased system complexity for treating elevated concentrations of hydrogen in the exhaust gas stream. For these reasons, it will be desirable to at least minimize the water accumulating in the anode side flow channels of the fuel cells so that the hydrogen gas is not wasted for purging the anode flow channels.
- Reducing accumulated water in the channels can also be accomplished by reducing inlet humidification. However, it is desirable to provide some relative humidity in the anode and cathode gases so that the membrane in the fuel cells remains hydrated. A dry inlet gas has a drying effect on the membrane that could increase the ionic resistance, and limit the membrane's long-term durability.
- Accumulated water in the cells can also reduce performance of the fuel cell when operated in an environment where the temperature goes below 0° C. The accumulated water could also lead to mechanical damage in these environments.
- In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a fuel cell that is part of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system is disclosed, where the fuel cell includes a water blocking layer positioned between anode gas flow channels and an anode side gas diffusion media layer. The blocking layer prevents liquid water from flowing through the gas diffusion media layer and entering the anode flow channels, while allowing gas from the flow channels to flow through the diffusion media layer to the membrane. A water accumulation channel can be provided around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer where blocked water is accumulated, and allowed to expand during cell freezing.
- A porous capillary wick can be provided in the accumulation channel for wicking water to the inlet end of the flow channels where it is used to humidify the anode gas coming into the fuel cell. The wick can have a tapered configuration so that it has a larger diameter at the gas input end of the flow channels. Further, wicking fingers can be coupled to the capillary wick and extend into or adjacent to the diffusion media layer to allow water from an internal area of the fuel cell to be removed by the capillary wick. In an alternate embodiment, the water accumulation area is eliminated by extending the water blocking layer to be in close proximity to ends of the diffusion media layer and a sealing gasket.
- Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack employing a water blocking layer between anode side flow channels and a cell MEA, according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack employing a water blocking layer as shown inFIG. 1 , and further employing a capillary wick positioned within a water accumulation channel; -
FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the fuel cell shown inFIG. 2 showing the capillary wick extending around a perimeter of the cell from a gas inlet manifold to a gas outlet manifold; -
FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a fuel cell of the type shown inFIG. 5 and including wicking fingers extending into an interior of the fuel cell for drawing water out of the gas diffusion media layer, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack including a modified water blocking layer, according to another embodiment of the present invention. - The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a fuel cell including a water blocking layer and a capillary wick is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses.
-
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of afuel cell 10 that would be one fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, for example, a fuel cell stack in a vehicle. Thefuel cell 10 includes ananode side 12 and acathode side 14. AnMEA 16 is positioned between theanode side 12 and thecathode side 14, and includes anelectrolyte membrane 18 having acatalyst layer 20 on theanode side 12 of themembrane 18 and acatalyst layer 22 on thecathode side 14 of themembrane 18. An anode side gasdiffusion media layer 26 is positioned adjacent to theMEA 16 on theanode side 12 and an anode sidebipolar plate 28 is positioned on an opposite side of the gasdiffusion media layer 26 from theMEA 16. The anode sidebipolar plate 28 includes a series ofanode flow channels 30 through which an anode input gas, particularly hydrogen, flows into thefuel cell 10 to react with thecatalyst layer 20. The gasdiffusion media layer 26 is a porous layer that provides for input gas transport to and water transport from theMEA 16. Agasket 34 seals themembrane 18 to thebipolar plate 28. - The
cathode side 14 of thefuel cell 10 would also include a cathode side gas diffusion media layer and a cathode side bipolar plate including cathode gas flow channels, as would be well understood to those skilled in the art. Additionally, an opposite side of thebipolar plate 28 would be the cathode side including cathode flow channels for an adjacent fuel cell to thefuel cell 10 in the fuel cell stack. - According to the invention, a
water blocking layer 40 is positioned between thebipolar plate 28 and the gasdiffusion media layer 26. Thewater blocking layer 40 prevents liquid water flowing through the gasdiffusion media layer 28 from theMEA 16 from entering theanode flow channels 30, thus preventing accumulation of water therein and preventing thechannels 30 from being blocked. Theblocking layer 40 is a thin and flexible layer, is suitably porous so it does not impede hydrogen transport, is hydrophobic so that liquid water cannot pass through and is electrically and thermally conductive so as to not significantly increase cell resistance or temperature gradients relative to thecatalyst layer 20 on theMEA 16. In one non-limiting example, thewater blocking layer 40 is made of commercially available Carbel MP30Z and has a thickness of about 50 microns. - The
water blocking layer 40 forces diffusion to be the dominant transport mechanism from thechannels 30 to the gasdiffusion media layer 26 by eliminating in-plane by-pass of reactant gas through thediffusion media layer 26. By eliminating the in-plane transport through the gasdiffusion media layer 26, gas velocity in theflow channels 30 is increased, particularly for serpentine flow field where the channel pattern tends to force reactant gas flow through thediffusion media layer 26, further helping water management in thefuel cell 10. This will mitigate the affect of variation in the diffusion media in-plane permeability characteristics. - Additionally, the
fuel cell 10 includes awater collection channel 42 extending around the perimeter of the gasdiffusion media layer 26. The sealinggasket 34 is located to maintain a space beyond thediffusion media layer 26, and defines thechannel 42. Thechannel 42 provides an area where the water that diffuses through themedia layer 26 can accumulate, and then expand if thefuel cell 10 is in an environment where it may freeze. It has been found that the fuel cell durability and start-up under sub-freezing temperatures is greatly impacted by accumulated water in theflow channels 30 during freezing. However, partially accumulated water in the gasdiffusion media layer 26 and in thechannel 42 has limited effect on the start-up of thefuel cell 10. - Storing liquid water in the
channels 42, and thus, partially in the gasdiffusion media layer 26, would also provide for a more robust cell performance and durability by preventing theMEA 16 from drying out during transients and when the inlet operating conditions cannot be controlled properly. The water buffer will benefit cell performance through the diffusion of excess water from the gasdiffusion media layer 26 to theMEA 16, keeping the proton conductivity in theMEA 16 high. Theblocking layer 40 will also reduce shrink tension in theMEA 16 that could extend the life of themembrane 18. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of afuel cell 48 similar to thefuel cell 10, where like elements are identified by the same reference numeral.FIG. 3 is a side plan view of thefuel cell 48 where thebipolar plate 28 and theblocking layer 40 have been removed. In this embodiment, aporous capillary wick 50 is positioned within thechannel 42 and extends completely around the perimeter of the gasdiffusion media layer 26. The hydrogen gas enters theflow channels 30 from aninlet manifold 52 and the remaining anode gas not consumed by thefuel cell 48 is output from thefuel cell 48 through anoutlet manifold 54. As is well understood in the art, when an anode input gas that is not highly humidified enters thechannels 30 from theinlet manifold 52 it is relatively dry, and thus acts to dry themembrane 18 at the inlet side of thefuel cell 48. As the anode gas propagates through theflow channels 30 to theoutlet manifold 54 it accumulates moisture, increasing its relative humidity (RH), which helps keep themembrane 18 hydrated. Thus, it is desirable to increase the relative humidity of the anode input gas to maintain themembrane 18 hydrated at the inlet end of theflow channels 30. - The
capillary wick 50 and thegasket 34 are configured so that the anode inlet gas from theinlet manifold 52 flows through thewick 50 and picks up water therefrom to increase its humidification. However, the anode exhaust gas exiting theflow channels 30 into theoutlet manifold 54 is prevented from contacting thewick 50. Therefore, there is a drying of thewick 50 at the inlet side of thewick 50 relative to the outlet side of thewick 50, which provides a capillary flow through thewick 50 to the inlet end. The material of thewick 50 can be any material suitable for the purposes discussed herein, such as a polymer fiber or a microfiber material. - As is apparent, the
wick 50 has a larger diameter adjacent to theinlet manifold 52 than the wick diameter at theoutlet manifold 54. This difference in the diameter of thewick 50 provides an increased flow area to accommodate the increased water flow to theinlet manifold 52. Thewick 50 can be a continuous length or separate sections that are coupled together. -
FIG. 4 is a side plan view of afuel cell 60 similar to the fuel cell 38 where like elements are identified by the same reference numeral. In this embodiment, wickingfingers 62 are coupled to thewick 50, and extend into thefuel cell 60. The wickingfingers 62 are perpendicular to the flow direction of theflow channels 30, and are positioned either adjacent to or within the gasdiffusion media layer 26, not shown inFIG. 4 . The wickingfingers 62 increase the flow of water from the gasdiffusion media layer 26 to thewick 50 so that water is more readily removed therefrom. Additionally, wickingfingers 64 can be provided in combination with thewick 50 that extend in a parallel direction to theflow channels 30. -
FIG. 5 is cross-sectional plan view of afuel cell 70 similar to thefuel cells blocking layer 40 is replaced with ablocking layer 72 that is in more intimate contact with thegasket 34 and the gasdiffusion media layer 26. Water is not removed from theanode side 12 of thefuel cell 70, but is removed from thecathode side 14 where increased flow can be used to remove excess water without wasting fuel to the exhaust as would be required to purge excess water from theanode side 12. In this configuration, water accumulation in theanode side 12 will reach steady state once its partial pressure is equivalent to thecathode side 14. This water may then be removed by decreasing the liquid water partial pressure in thecathode side 14. This creates a concentration gradient across theMEA 16 that is the driving force to remove accumulated water from theanode side 12 to thecathode side 14. This prevents the accumulation of water on theanode side 12 of thefuel cell 70, which eliminates the chance for water freezing on theanode side 12 and damaging thefuel cell 70. - The discussion above only talks about providing a water blocking layer and a wick on the
anode side 12 of thefuel cell 10. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a water blocking layer can be provided between the gas diffusion media layer and the cathode gas flow channels on thecathode side 14 of thefuel cell 10. Because air is readily available to purge the water out of the cathode flow channels, it is typically not as critical to prevent water from entering the cathode flow channels. - The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (27)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/229,909 US7749637B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2005-09-19 | Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC |
DE102006043362A DE102006043362B4 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-09-15 | Fuel cell with water blocking layer and sucking reservoir |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/229,909 US7749637B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2005-09-19 | Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070065708A1 true US20070065708A1 (en) | 2007-03-22 |
US7749637B2 US7749637B2 (en) | 2010-07-06 |
Family
ID=37776018
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/229,909 Expired - Fee Related US7749637B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2005-09-19 | Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7749637B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102006043362B4 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090024373A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Torsten Berning | Method for optimizing diffusion media with spatially varying mass transport resistance |
US20100028744A1 (en) * | 2008-08-04 | 2010-02-04 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Gas diffusion layer with lower gas diffusivity |
US20100028750A1 (en) * | 2008-08-04 | 2010-02-04 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Gas diffusion layer with lower gas diffusivity |
US20110027621A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027637A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027633A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027624A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027638A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027628A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027629A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9606245B1 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2017-03-28 | The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York | Autonomous gamma, X-ray, and particle detector |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6106965A (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 2000-08-22 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Polymer electrolyte fuel cell |
US6350539B1 (en) * | 1999-10-25 | 2002-02-26 | General Motors Corporation | Composite gas distribution structure for fuel cell |
US6576358B2 (en) * | 1998-09-30 | 2003-06-10 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method of discharging reaction water in PEM fuel cells and fuel cell for carrying out the method |
US20050221134A1 (en) * | 2004-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | Liu Wen K | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell |
US20060154124A1 (en) * | 2005-01-13 | 2006-07-13 | Fowler Sitima R | Control of RH conditions in electrochemical conversion assembly |
US20060199061A1 (en) * | 2005-03-02 | 2006-09-07 | Fiebig Bradley N | Water management in bipolar electrochemical cell stacks |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19803132C1 (en) | 1998-01-28 | 1999-04-01 | Forschungszentrum Juelich Gmbh | Fuel cell especially a polymer membrane fuel cell |
DE19859765A1 (en) | 1998-12-23 | 2000-06-29 | Forschungszentrum Juelich Gmbh | Electrode-electrolyte unit for a fuel cell |
DE19914247A1 (en) | 1999-03-29 | 2000-10-19 | Siemens Ag | HTM fuel cell with reduced electrolyte flushing, HTM fuel cell battery and method for starting an HTM fuel cell and / or an HTM fuel cell battery |
DE10052224B4 (en) | 2000-10-21 | 2009-12-10 | Daimler Ag | A gas diffusion electrode having increased tolerance to moisture variation, a membrane electrode assembly having the same, methods for producing the gas diffusion electrode and the membrane electrode assembly, and use of the membrane electrode assembly |
DE10052190B4 (en) | 2000-10-21 | 2009-10-22 | BDF IP Holdings Ltd., Vancouver | Gas diffusion electrode, membrane electrode assembly, method of making a gas diffusion electrode and use of a membrane electrode assembly |
JP4824298B2 (en) | 2003-12-04 | 2011-11-30 | パナソニック株式会社 | Gas diffusion layer for fuel cell, electrode, membrane electrode assembly and method for producing the same |
-
2005
- 2005-09-19 US US11/229,909 patent/US7749637B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-09-15 DE DE102006043362A patent/DE102006043362B4/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6106965A (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 2000-08-22 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Polymer electrolyte fuel cell |
US6576358B2 (en) * | 1998-09-30 | 2003-06-10 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method of discharging reaction water in PEM fuel cells and fuel cell for carrying out the method |
US6350539B1 (en) * | 1999-10-25 | 2002-02-26 | General Motors Corporation | Composite gas distribution structure for fuel cell |
US20050221134A1 (en) * | 2004-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | Liu Wen K | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell |
US20060154124A1 (en) * | 2005-01-13 | 2006-07-13 | Fowler Sitima R | Control of RH conditions in electrochemical conversion assembly |
US20060199061A1 (en) * | 2005-03-02 | 2006-09-07 | Fiebig Bradley N | Water management in bipolar electrochemical cell stacks |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090024373A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Torsten Berning | Method for optimizing diffusion media with spatially varying mass transport resistance |
US7829230B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2010-11-09 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Method for optimizing diffusion media with spatially varying mass transport resistance |
US20100028744A1 (en) * | 2008-08-04 | 2010-02-04 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Gas diffusion layer with lower gas diffusivity |
US20100028750A1 (en) * | 2008-08-04 | 2010-02-04 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Gas diffusion layer with lower gas diffusivity |
US20110027638A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027628A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027633A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027639A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027627A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027624A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027621A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027637A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
WO2011014242A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete, Llc | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US20110027629A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US8460814B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2013-06-11 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US8865361B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2014-10-21 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US8889312B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2014-11-18 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
US8968903B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2015-03-03 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US8974939B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2015-03-10 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | Fluid-surfaced electrode |
US10074879B2 (en) | 2009-07-29 | 2018-09-11 | Deep Science, Llc | Instrumented fluid-surfaced electrode |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE102006043362B4 (en) | 2009-08-06 |
DE102006043362A1 (en) | 2007-03-22 |
US7749637B2 (en) | 2010-07-06 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7749637B2 (en) | Water blocking layer and wicking reservoir for PEMFC | |
US8192885B2 (en) | Shutdown strategy for enhanced water management | |
US8071243B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
US7517600B2 (en) | Multiple pressure regime control to minimize RH excursions during transients | |
US20060240302A1 (en) | Fuel cell operating method with improved hydrogen and oxygen utilization | |
US8232018B2 (en) | Anode flowshifting with closed-injector bleeding | |
US20070238006A1 (en) | Water management properties of pem fuel cell bipolar plates using carbon nano tube coatings | |
JPH1116591A (en) | Solid polymer type fuel cell, solid polymer type fuel cell system, and electrical machinery and apparatus | |
US20070036891A1 (en) | Method of Making A Fuel Cell Component Using An Easily Removed Mask | |
JP2007128889A (en) | Cascaded stack provided with gas flow recycling on first step | |
JP3699063B2 (en) | Fuel cell and control method thereof | |
US7507488B2 (en) | System and method for drying a fuel cell stack at system shutdown | |
US20060216570A1 (en) | Durable hydrophilic coatings for fuel cell bipolar plates | |
JP5109259B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
US9368817B2 (en) | In-situ fuel cell stack reconditioning | |
US7803497B2 (en) | Fuel cell stack that utilizes an actuator to switch between interdigitated and straight flow for optimizing performance | |
JP5071254B2 (en) | Fuel cell power generation system and operation method thereof | |
JP4661055B2 (en) | Fuel cell system and operation method | |
US20070048557A1 (en) | Diagnosis of cell-to-cell variability in water holdup via dynamic voltage sensor pattern in response to a cathode flow pulse | |
US20070087255A1 (en) | Device to control the flow speed of media through a fuel cell stack | |
US20100316916A1 (en) | Polymer electrolyte fuel cell system | |
US8431275B2 (en) | Water management of PEM fuel cell stacks using surface active agents | |
EP2387091A1 (en) | Fuel cell | |
US7846601B2 (en) | Fuel cell design and control method to facilitate self heating through catalytic combustion of anode exhaust | |
US7704620B2 (en) | Laminar bypass for cascaded stack |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OWEJAN, JON P.;JI, CHUNXIN;TRABOLD, THOMAS A.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016897/0811 Effective date: 20050825 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, DISTRICT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022195/0334 Effective date: 20081231 Owner name: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,DISTRICT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022195/0334 Effective date: 20081231 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECU Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022553/0493 Effective date: 20090409 Owner name: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SEC Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022553/0493 Effective date: 20090409 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY;REEL/FRAME:023124/0519 Effective date: 20090709 Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.,MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY;REEL/FRAME:023124/0519 Effective date: 20090709 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES;CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES;REEL/FRAME:023127/0402 Effective date: 20090814 Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.,MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES;CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES;REEL/FRAME:023127/0402 Effective date: 20090814 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, DISTRICT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:023156/0142 Effective date: 20090710 Owner name: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,DISTRICT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:023156/0142 Effective date: 20090710 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST, MICHIGAN Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:023162/0093 Effective date: 20090710 Owner name: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST,MICHIGAN Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:023162/0093 Effective date: 20090710 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY;REEL/FRAME:025245/0587 Effective date: 20100420 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST;REEL/FRAME:025314/0901 Effective date: 20101026 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, DELAWARE Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:025327/0041 Effective date: 20101027 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, MICHIGAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:025780/0936 Effective date: 20101202 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, MICHIGAN Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:034184/0001 Effective date: 20141017 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552) Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20220706 |